Can anyone help with Ectopic heartbeat ??

[nickyg]

Hi there everyone

I am a new member and found this site when I was looking for some info on Ectopic heartbeat. I started with this about 3 weeks ago - completely scared the life out of me. Went to the docs and have had 2 ECGs and some blood tests - ECGs all okay apart from showing that I'm having frequent Ectopic episodes and blood tests all normal.

I need some reassurance if you can!! Do these ectopics go away? I really want them too as I hate them and they feel horrible. Can anyone suggest anything I could try to make them go and at least get better?

I would really appreciate any help and feedback so that I can try and get my life back to normal. I am a naturally very anxious person and have suffered from a few panic attacks and I am sure being anxious doesnt help the ectopics.

Look foward to hearing from you and thanks.

NickyG

[Wannabeloved85]

ecotopic heartbeat? is that like heart flutters/missing beats etc? Cos i have them. they went as soon as i dropped my guard! i was looking into all the time, waiting for it to happen. then when i said 'i dont care' it would happen and i would just let it go, not worry. it works once you get the hang of it, everybody gets it, only most ppl dotn notice it as theyre not on guard for it.
Becci x

[polly daydream]

Hi Nicky and welcome to the forum. Firstly as the dr probably told you, eptopics are absolutely harmless and most people experience them sometime in there lives, me included, I sometimes have really awfull episodes but I know they will not hurt me. The only thing I can suggest to you is to ask your dr for some beta blockers, I use them when I am having a bad time with the eptopics, they are called propranalol inderal, I have the slow release ones=80mg, they last up to about 8 hrs a time, I find they help to calm the eptopics down, which then can actually stop them altogether eventually. You will still get the odd eptopic as do most people, it is normal, try to stay relaxed as this will only make them worse.

Hope this has helped, pm me if you need more information.

Polly

[Granny Primark]

Hi nicky,

Welcome to this site.
I have taken beta blockers for 21 years for high blood pressure last year i was taken off them and given another bpressure tablet instead. It was shortly after i was taken off them that i suffered my first panic attack.
I had to go to the doctors for a bpressure check it was a different doctor to the one i normally see and i told her what had happened to me. She explained it was a panic attack and that it could be due to all the stress i was under and the fact that id been taken off beta blockers.
I hadnt realised until then that beta blockers were also prescribed for people suffering panic.

I still suffer with panic attacks and anxiety but i know now that no way could i cope without taking beta blockers.

Im sure youl get loads more advice on this site.

Take care
LYNN xx

[nickyg]

Hi Lynn

I am on BP tablets too and have been for a year (ace inhibitor which helps with my BP really well).

I am going back to see my GP next week and will certainly ask him about Beta Blockers - my Ectopics are quite bad at the mo and seem to be worse in the afternoon for some reason and they are also bad after a big (ish) meal.

Panic attacks are horrible and I sympathise with you if you have had them. Thanks for you kind words and reassurance. Everyone on this site is so kind and knowing there are people out there just like me helps.

Thanks,

Nicky

Hi nicky,

Welcome to this site.
I have taken beta blockers for 21 years for high blood pressure last year i was taken off them and given another bpressure tablet instead. It was shortly after i was taken off them that i suffered my first panic attack.
I had to go to the doctors for a bpressure check it was a different doctor to the one i normally see and i told her what had happened to me. She explained it was a panic attack and that it could be due to all the stress i was under and the fact that id been taken off beta blockers.
I hadnt realised until then that beta blockers were also prescribed for people suffering panic.

I still suffer with panic attacks and anxiety but i know now that no way could i cope without taking beta blockers.

Im sure youl get loads more advice on this site.

Take care
LYNN xx

<div align="right">Originally posted by loopylynn - 07 September 2006 : 14:46:11</div id="right">
[/quote]

[nickyg]

Hi Becci

Yes thats it - missed/fluttering/extra heartbeats which make you feel pretty lousy when they are happening.

Do you still have yours now or have they gone? You mentioned that they stopped when you dropped your guard so just wondered if you mean once you relaxed and just let them happen (thats what I'm trying to do but its not easy).

Hopefully they will clear up soon but thanks for your reassurance and help.

Nicky

ecotopic heartbeat? is that like heart flutters/missing beats etc? Cos i have them. they went as soon as i dropped my guard! i was looking into all the time, waiting for it to happen. then when i said 'i dont care' it would happen and i would just let it go, not worry. it works once you get the hang of it, everybody gets it, only most ppl dotn notice it as theyre not on guard for it.
Becci x

<div align="right">Originally posted by Wannabeloved85 - 07 September 2006 : 12:31:38</div id="right">
[/quote]

[trac67]

Hi Nicky,

Welcome to the forum, you will get a lot of good advice here and make some new friends.

Here are some links on previous posts on eptopic heart beats :

Been to doc's about ectopics (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8316)
Heart Results - ectopics and dizzyness (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8474)

and some on palpitations :

Palpitations (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/NMPcms.php?nmppage=palpitations)
palpatations (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2284)
Missed heartbeats! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3186)
sorry for being silly....but.... (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3320)
Palpitations? Reassurance needed and some answers! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3371)
Missed heartbeat question again (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3550)
IS THERE ANYMORE I CAN DO???? (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3784)
ectopic heart beats (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4664)
Doc made ectopic fear worse (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4849)
missed heartbeats, still worried (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5061)
Skipped Beats (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5078)
Heart reassurance (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5282)
New to site.....Palpatation freinds!!!!! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5204)
STILL SOOO SCARED OF MISSED HEARTBEATS-LOADS AGAIN (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5404)
Multiple Skipped Beats (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5424)
Skipped Beats AGAIN!!! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5639)
Obsessed with my heart (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6535)
Palpitations (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7258)
Eptopic Beats..im sorry please help..xxxxx (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8055)


Hope these help

Take care

Trac xx

'Live your life with arms wide open, today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten'

[Trev]

<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">Do these ectopics go away? I really want them too as I hate them and they feel horrible</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">

This is one reason why they are there. The more we dislike a symptom, the more it upsets us and begins to occupy our thoughts all day and so the more it comes because we are feeding the fear!! A circle gets set up.
It's a circle that can be broken by trying to accept it and ignore the symptom. This is best done with distraction really.

Exercise is good. And remove stimulants like caffeine etc.

They were described to me as sneezes for the heart and are harmless.

Cheers,
Trev :D

[nickyg]

Hi there all

Just wanted to say thanks so much to you all for you kind words and help and understanding.

It makes such a difference when you know you are not alone with a problem. I was quite interested tonight to find out that cheese and chocolate can make ectopics worse (and a little bit miffed too as I love them both) but will try eliminating them and see if it helps.

Going to see the Dr again next week so hope they have improved by then.

Thanks to all.

Nicky

[jonmcg93]

I'm going to the doctor tomorrow for the normal workup to test my blood, A1C (for my diabetes) etc.

I mentioned to him I was having these " episodes" the first time I saw him, I was mid panic attack so he listented to my heart and everything was a-ok. I have had 3 or 4 EKG's and they never show anything at all. His conclusion was, Anxiety attack/panic attack.

I am overweight (295lbs) but I carry it well on my 6'3 frame. If I can get my weight under control (my diabetes already is for the most part) hopefully this will make this better on me. Also having high blood pressure doesn't help either but that is heriditary for the most part, but at 31 years old if I lost about 70 LBS I suspect it would be normal.

I have the flip flop heartbeats and when I do, I just take a .5 mg xanax and I relax and they for the most part stop.

It's good to know I am not alone.

Alot of the time the only thing that gets me through is prayer and reading the bible. So here's hoping for a good report next week.

Psalms 18

[mad_shell66]

hi nicky, welcome to the forum. i hope you find lots of useful information here at no more panic, and also i hope you make some good friends, i hope the doctor will help you when you see him
all the best:D:D
shell xxx:D:D:D

[lin]

Hi Nicky

I suffer with ectopic heartbeats, yes they are scary i've had them for 5yrs now ever since i got anxiety/panic attacks. They have calmed down alot but for the last few days they have come back with a vengence don't know why as i am not anxious or really worried about anything.

I was told caffiene, worry can cause them but they are common with panic and anxiety.

linda xx

[jmcb]

Hi Nicky and welcome.

I am a relatively new member to this site and came across it as I was trying to find something or someone to alleviate my fears due to these flipped heartbeats (which I now know to be ectopics). I have them as we type! Mine tend to be stress related and are more acute when I have not exercised for a while. Also exacerbated by caffeine and alcohol late at night and also, interestingly, take a way food that has MSG in it. I had a great nights tennis last night and was not aware of one. They came on strong then when I lay down in bed but due to the help of this forum over the past few days, I just bloodly well ignored them and fell into a deep and pleasant sleep right thru until 7am this morning! They wont harm you but are just not pleasant. Best advice is to keep busy and try to ignore them.

Dont worry!!!

Dublin girl.

[Wannabeloved85]

nicky,
No i still get them, very rarely though, i used to have them on a daily basis, especially at night also, but now get them only rarely, i just let it happen, i know it cant harm me etc, its one of about 3 symptoms ive learned to accept in 4 years! it certainly isnt easy to just let it happen when your so convinced they are harmful.
I used sometimes get these as a start of anxiety, now its my tummy doing a rolly polly! followed by the rest of them!
Youll be fine! you know you will!!! were a convincing bunch, why? because we honest and know all the details!
Becci x

[shaz1]

I am having ectopics today and have suffered with them for about 20 years. I saw a heart specialist af few years ago had all the tests, heart scan, wore a 24 hour tape and he said it was nothign at all. I can relate mine to my periods, either when I am ovulating, or just before I start my periods - once kept a diary of when I was having them and it was always to do with my menstural cycle. But they are horrid and I hate them and I always panic when I get them and want them to go away - anyone else out there think they are related to hormoes?

s bearman

[jmcb]

Shaz Hi - Yes I am quite convinced that they can be linked with hormones. I am experiencing a bout of these at the moment which have lasted for about 2 weeks now, which is the longest I have every had them. There is definitely a stress related link too. I can trace the beginnings of these to just after I had my first baby when I was 33. I did not get them with my second child. I am now 48 and peri-menopausal and I am convinved that this is a factor. Never had them last this long - absolutely dreadful things and make me feel really low. Definitely made worse by wine and coffee so I have had to cut these out. For me exercising helps make them better - at least takes your mind of them

[nomorepanic]

Hi Nicky

Welcome aboard and lovely to see you here.

Hope we can be of some help.

Nicola

[sparklehorse]

hello
new here too, also typed in for 'ectopic hertbeats' and lo n behold its all about panic! something ive had afair share of too - interestingly... Try n keep it short, im 33, mum to 2 boys 3 n 5, spent the last 3 years liviing in caravans whilst we convert a property. Ive always had Ectopics, but only this year felt moved to investigate them.. They were more noticeable when i was pregnant too.
In july I had them really bad n the day we were moving house I toddled down to A nE with my wee one in tow thinking i was (calmly) gonna kark it. The kept me in 24hr sfor a trace and discovered my bld sugar was v low and fluctating. Alos have naturally quite low Bls pressurse, and even now I always seem to have borderline low bld sugar. I am quite thin, but eat like a horse cos I know I get ectopics when im hungry n wobbly. Today i walked inot a n E again as theyve been going Bonkers for hours this am - evry few seconds Non stop. Its just awful , and there I am trying to politely chat to everyone and do the shopping and sort the children etc its Horrid. However, today reassured again as doc let me go but Why do they just Reappear? Im careful on the caffeine/wine/fags and to be honest - it doesnt make a blind bit of difference to ectopic heartbeats BUT it does to any palpitaions(fast heart after meals n booze n tireness etc).
I totally sympathise with anyone having a bad episode and would Love to know the magic recipe to switch them off.
I also believe they are very hormonally linked and egt them before periods and mid cycle. (sorry guys..)
Any ideas welcome for natural remedies or things to avoid- whats the cheese thing? Docs doing a load of blood tests agian but im not sure what thhey hope to find other than its red.
theyre also quite a dismissive bunch - the docs.
thanks for listening take care xx

[magmagxy]

dear all,

i really feel that im not alone anymore when come to here.. i've suffered this since i was young at 12 yrs old.. it gone and back again after so many yrs now especially after i delivered birth.. and it happens quite often nowadays.. really is "mentally abused" me.. make me feel annoyed and helpless...

it has no medication after seeing the cardiologist and all the check up showed normal... and i read one of the msg here saying it become worst after a big meal... yes it is true.. after i had my lunch the heart beats really drive me crazy.. since i know it is not a disease and no medication then how to get rid of this?!!

[suzyq54]

hi nicky
i suffer with ectopics really bad they are awful and feel like you.i am on propranalol to calm them which does work and i have also completely cut out chocolate, caffeine, sugar and sweetners especially aspartamine they are stimulants and alcohol is the biggy i have gone completely back to basics with regards to food and i know it sounds boring but if you are like me and want them to stop or at least decrease then you have to eat fresh foods fruit veg, drinking water etc it is working. hope you feel better pm me if you need more advice.

suzy

[suzyq54]

hi nicky
i suffer with ectopics really bad they are awful and feel like you.i am on propranalol to calm them which does work and i have also completely cut out chocolate, caffeine, sugar and sweetners especially aspartamine they are stimulants and alcohol is the biggy i have gone completely back to basics with regards to food and i know it sounds boring but if you are like me and want them to stop or at least decrease then you have to eat fresh foods fruit veg, drinking water etc it is working. hope you feel better pm me if you need more advice.

suzy


dear all,

i really feel that im not alone anymore when come to here.. i've suffered this since i was young at 12 yrs old.. it gone and back again after so many yrs now especially after i delivered birth.. and it happens quite often nowadays.. really is "mentally abused" me.. make me feel annoyed and helpless...

it has no medication after seeing the cardiologist and all the check up showed normal... and i read one of the msg here saying it become worst after a big meal... yes it is true.. after i had my lunch the heart beats really drive me crazy.. since i know it is not a disease and no medication then how to get rid of this?!!


magmax

i suggest you try a heartburn remedy after your meal, i too get them after a meal i would also suggest you eat little and often rather than 3 main meals of the day and eat slower i found that helped. poor you i have only had these blasted ectopic beats for 4 years for you to have them since you were 12 is hard going. take care and hope that helps

[sunshine-lady]

Hi

:welcome: to NMP, I'm sure you will like it here as there is so much advice and support.

chat is fun too:D

[mori]

Dear All,
I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for your honesty, I've been suffering from Ectopic heart beats for more than 20 years, few years ago I was assured that they are harmless, but still terrifying feeling and in many occasions they triggered panic attack! It is long and unpleasant story. I agree with most of you, I always thought that they are stress and anxiety related (in my case) as I'm an anxious person, but very recently I realised that I get them mostly after a big meal and even worse if I drink a cup of tea! They usually go away after few hours, but I found exercising and a short nap helpful. After reading about your experience, I have to say that I am really sorry that we all suffer, but I am very very happy that I am not alone and have your support. Thank you very much

[kittykat]

Hi there and :welcome: to the site, a lot of good advice on here and a good chatroom as well , take care xx

[poppy007]

i know it easy to say dont worry about them as i get them i use to go to bed really tired but as soon as i lay down i would be trying to go sleep but everytime i did i would hear my heart beat get louder and louder until i was in such a panic about it i would jump out of bed then when i finally got to sleep i would wake up dreaming and i would have most awfull panic attacks this would happen every night my heart would jump the more i worried the worse it got so i thought why dont this happen when i breathing normail well its beacuse i ignore my breathing so the best thing to do is ignore the heart beats and if you jump with fear again rub your arm i know this sounds silly but it works for me try it next time hope i have helped you julie

[weeble40]

Hi and a big welcome to NMP its great to have you here, hope to see you in chat sometime,

Take care

Emma xxx

[ALEX WIDDOWSON]

hi all....i get them a lot and like u all they are hell .,.,is it the end u think?.,,.,NO is the answer i must have had at least 10 ecg,s perfectly normal,,.,.,i find i get them really bad when i wake up next day after drinking wine or lager and smoking.,.,as i dont smoke when i dont drink ..,pathetic i know .,,so im trying hard to cut these down a hell of a lot ...but the more u get them the more u think s**tand that makes them worse,..,basically theres always something that triggers them off its finding out what it is.,,but they are the most evil things ever..,,hope this may have helped,.,.,i feek it alot just under the breast bone,.,.,its good to know 1000s even millions of people get them ,.it sort of calms udown good luck all .,.,.,alex


This post has been automatically edited by the NMP post filter

[Ilona]

Dear All,

After some persistance I managed to join and post on this site - I just wanted to thank you all for your comments about Ectopic Heartbeats. I found it hugely re-assuring to read what you all had to say, and to know I'm not (by a long way!) the only one this is happening to! :-)

I have had the odd one (if you can say that) for years, and waking up with pounding heart and shuddering body, but this last week it was very bad, almost non-stop with some (slight) pain in my heart area at times, and I finally got myself to the GP who could hear what was going on (though the ECT didn't show up anything - embarrassing!), and has asked me to come back for a fasting blood test. It sounds like this is pretty standard.

I found the advice on diet helpful, and will try to cut out caffeine (I have recently started drinking a small bottle of diet coke a day again, which I had stopped drinking for a couple of years), chocolate (I love it and eat daily!) and Aspartane (which I also have a lot of). Bummer, but if it helps ...

It helped me to hear how other people find the feelings unpleasant. I work FT, and have to present things to groups of people, etc. and have found it quite hard that I suddenly feel my heart and kind of run out of steam - I suddenly feel weak and energy-less, clammy, slightly dizzy and quite insecure. It's so good to hear you guys have felt similar things - it kind of makes it ok for me to feel that way. And to know it isn't dangerous as well.

Anyway - I wish you all the best. And thank you so much again for being there!

Ix